Phygelius plant named ‘TNPHYCO’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phygelius  plant characterized by medium size dark orange flowers, a long bloom time, an upright, well branched habit, with multiple crowns from the base, clean-looking, deep green foliage, and excellent vigor.

Botanical denomination: Phygelius x rectus.

Variety designation: ‘TNPHYCO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius, given the name, ‘TNPHYCO’. Phygelius is in the family Scrophulariaceae. Phygelius x rectus ‘TNPHYCO’ is from a controlled cross using Phygelius ‘70-1’, a proprietary, unnamed plant as the seed parent, and Phygelius ‘72-1’, a proprietary, unnamed plant as the pollen parent. It was part of a controlled breeding program to produce upright, compact habits with high flower count. This cultivar was selected for medium size, dark orange flowers, high flower count, an upright and well branched habit, multiple crowns from the base and extended bloom time, and clean-looking, deep green foliage.

The Trade designation of the new cultivar is COLORBURST™ Orange.

Compared to the seed parent, Phygelius ‘70-1’, the new cultivar has brighter orange flowers, better upright habit, and better rebloom.

Compared to the pollen parent, Phygelius ‘72-1’, the new cultivar has a more upright habit and improved rebloom.

Compared to Phygelius x rectus ‘Festive Orange’, an unpatented cultivar, the new cultivar is more upright with darker red-orange flowers

Compared to Phygelius ‘Funfare Orange’, an unpatented cultivar, the new cultivar has dark red-orange flowers rather than deep salmon.

Phygelius ‘TNPHYCO’ is uniquely distinguished by its:

-   -   1. medium size dark orange flowers,     -   2. high flower count,     -   3. long bloom time,     -   4. upright, well branched habit, with multiple crowns from the         base,     -   5. clean-looking, deep green foliage, and     -   6. excellent vigor.

The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (cuttings and micropropagation). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by cuttings and micropropagation using terminal and lateral shoots as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a close up of a flower on a three-year-old Phygelius ‘TNPHYCO’ in the summer in Canby, Oreg.

FIG. 2 shows a three-year-old Phygelius ‘TNPHYCO’ in bloom growing in full sun in the garden in June in Canby, Oreg.

DETAILED PLANT DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new Phygelius cultivar based on observations of a 3-year-old specimen grown outside in a trial garden in Canby, Oreg. in July. The color descriptions are all based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition, 2007, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Plant:     -   -   Type.—Semi-evergreen subshrub.         -   Form.—Upright, branching.         -   Cold hardiness.—USDA Zone 7-10.         -   Size.—Grows to 115 cm tall and 87 cm wide.         -   Vigor.—Excellent.         -   Stem number.—25 main stems from the crown.         -   Stem.—Upright, grows to 80 cm long and 11 cm wide (at the             base), glabrous, internodes grow to 11 cm long, Grey Brown             199A.         -   Rooting.—Plants root easily from stem cuttings. -   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Simple         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Shape.—Ovate lanceolate.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Margins.—Serrate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Blade size.—Grows to 7.5 cm long and 3.6 cm wide.         -   Petiole.—Grows to 2.4 cm long and 0.3 cm wide, closest to             Green 138A.         -   Surface texture.—Glabrous on both sides.         -   Leaf color.—Topside closest to Green N137A with main vein at             base Green 137C, bottom side Green 138B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—One-sided, pyramidal panicle with pendulous flowers.         -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—About 120.         -   Size of inflorescence.—Grows to 35 cm long and 10 cm wide.         -   Peduncle.—Grows to 3 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, glabrous,             closest to Greyed Orange 177B.         -   Pedicel.—Grows to 1.5 cm long and 1 mm wide, glabrous,             closest to Greyed Orange 177B.         -   Bloom period.—Mid June to frost in Canby, Oreg. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—4.2 cm long and 0.8 cm wide at the widest area.         -   Description.—Tubular, pendulous.         -   Color.—Closest to Orange Red 32B. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—Zygomorphic, perfect.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Size.—Grows to 5 cm long and 1.8 cm wide.         -   Corolla description.—Grows to 4.9 cm long and 2 cm wide;             both sides glabrous; tube 3.8 cm long, swollen to 5 cm wide             on bottom side for 0.5 cm under the calyx then narrows to             0.4 cm wide and expanding to 1.1 cm wide below the lobes; 5             lobes, reflexed, oblong, tips obtuse, margins entire, lobes             0.7 cm long and 0.5 cm wide; outside closest to Orange Red             34C, inside Orange Red 34A on lobes for 2 mm, Yellow 13C             ring extending into tube.         -   Calyx description.—7 mm deep and 8 mm wide, 5 spreading,             slightly reflexed lobes cut almost to the base, glabrous             inside and out, each lobe lanceolate in shape, 5 mm long and             to 0.2 cm wide, margins entire, tip acute, closest to Greyed             Yellow 162B.         -   Pistil description.—1, 5.4 cm long, ovary 0.5 cm long and             0.3 cm wide, closest to Greyed Yellow 160A; style 4.6 cm             long and less than 1 mm wide, Greyed Yellow 160D; stigma 1             mm Greyed Red 181D.         -   Stamen description.—4, filaments: two short 1.5 cm long and             two long 2 cm and 1 mm wide, Greyed Purple 187A, anthers 0.3             cm long and 0.2 cm wide, Brown N200A.         -   Pollen.—Low, Grey Brown N199A.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Lastingness.—A flower lasts about a week on a plant. -   Fruit:     -   -   Type.—Capsule, curved.         -   Fertility.—Poor.         -   Size.—1 cm deep and 5 mm wide.         -   Color.—Brown 200D. -   Seed: None seen. -   Pests and diseases: Plants of the new Phygelius have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Phygelius. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius plant substantially as shown and described. 